Metro Development Group unveils first Crystal Lagoons amenity in the U.S.

Wesley Chapel, Fla. — Metro Development Group, a Tampa developer of master planned communities and the exclusive developer of Crystal Lagoons in West Central Florida, unveiled the first-ever Crystal Lagoons amenity in the U.S. at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 18, 2018 at Epperson.

“Metro Development Group is excited to be the first to bring this amazing amenity to the U.S.,” said Greg Singleton, President, Metro Development Group. “We have celebrated many milestones with Crystal Lagoons over the past two years and we are proud to have earned the distinction of being the first developer to inaugurate a Crystal Lagoon amenity in the U.S.”

To mark the occasion, Metro is planning a grand opening celebration in on Saturday, April 28, 2018 where Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps is scheduled to appear.

“We are pleased to have the first official Crystal Lagoon amenity in the U.S. with our valued partners Metro Development Group,” said Kevin P. Morgan, Executive Vice President, Crystal Lagoons. “As the first Crystal Lagoon project in the U.S., the Epperson lagoon will serve as the premier showcase in the U.S. for the world’s top amenity that is reinventing the way residential communities are being developed. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Metro with their new lagoon communities coming to West Central Florida.”

Residents will soon enjoy the 7.5-acre crystal-clear lagoon and a variety of aquatic recreational activities, such as swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and even using small (non-motorized) sailboats. The lagoon at Epperson will feature a waterslide, private cabanas, in-water obstacle platform, swim-up bar, tidal pool, restaurant, family beach, yoga lawn, an entertainment plaza, an area for special events and much more.

Metro Development Group partnered with Crystal Lagoons in September 2015 to be the first developer to bring these crystal-clear lagoons to the U.S. Epperson is the first of four lagoon projects that Metro is building in Florida. Metro is the first U.S. developer to get approved plans, first to break-ground, first to fill and now Metro is the first developer to inaugurate a Crystal Lagoons amenity in the U.S.

Now that the first of Metro’s five planned lagoons is complete, the others won’t be too far behind. Metro Development Group will soon break ground on a second Lagoon at the Metro Places community Southshore Bay, located in Southern Hillsborough County in early 2018.

Upon completion, each lagoon uses 50 times less water compared to a park of the same size and 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course. The lagoon is maintained by Crystal Lagoons ultra-sonic technology that uses sensors to monitor the quality of the crystal-clear water. This sustainable technology also uses 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and uses up to 50 times less energy than conventional pool filtration systems.

This first Crystal Lagoon in the nation is also part of the first ever Connected City, which has been designated the first “Smart Gigabit Community” in the country to be built from the ground up. Metro Places exclusive technology, ULTRAFi, provides the fastest internet and WiFi speeds in the nation throughout the homes, the community and the lagoon.